Distinguished Gentlemans Ride

The DGR is a worldwide motorcycle event to raise money for men's health issues. The ride is an excuse to dress up and show off your classic (or otherwise) bike.  

Riders at Kelvingrove

My brother gets into the spirit of the event

Piper

A bike from my youth - a Suzuki GT185

Mod scooter. Any Scot will recognise the paint-job…..

…..our other national drink.

Riders at Triumph Glasgow

A rare Danish-made Nimbus. Overhead cam and exposed valve springs????

Neat café racer (Yamaha Virago based?)

Sachs 800 with Manx Norton-style tank & paintwork

Suzuki 1980's Yoshimura endurance racer replica. Based on Yamaha Fazer 600.

The real thing....so the replica is very well done.

Jaguar C Type. These are extremely rare so probably a replica.

For the hipster

Star of the Internet

I was browsing the internet for Yamaha FJ1200 info. I don't know why - having ridden, maintained and repaired them for the last 26 years there's not much I can learn from a website. Anyway I found "Top Speed", a site that reviews bikes including the FJ.

Looking the photo on the page I thought "I recognised that bike" - it’s a 1992 FJ1200 3XW, more specifically it's MY 1992 FJ1200 3XW. It is a photo of my bike I took in July 2004 having bought the bike a couple of months earlier.

There's actually another photo of the bike on the page. A later one with a Givi Wingrack and a higher touring screen fitted. After a bit of a search I found that I took the photo in March 2007 at Loch Creagan in the West Highlands, north of Oban.

They must have copied the images from the internet but I can't remember posting then. I used to contribute to FJowners.com forum so I guess they must have come from there.  

Website here:

https://www.topspeed.com/motorcycles/motorcycle-reviews/yamaha/1986-1996-yamaha-fj1100-and-yamaha-fj1200-ar37318.html

The photos stolen used 

Mallorca Trip - Part #4 - On the Trail

Gwen found some interesting hiking routes from Port de Pollença.  

As a (now) experienced hiker here's my top tips. Never carry water - even in hot, dry climates. Always wear appropriate footwear - flip-flops or open toe sandals are ideal. Don't bother with a map - it inhibits your free roaming spirit. And if in doubt - follow the folk in front. They probably know where they're going.

Mallorca Trip - Part #3 - Food and Drink

Gwen about to enjoy a lunch of Pa amd Oli (bread & oil) a common Mallorcan dish. Crusty bread with olive oil, garlic & tomato topped (in this case) with cured meats.

This was a funny one. We stopped at this bar for a drink and I liked the look of the place - full of locals. The menu was very brief - paella followed by pork or fish. Including water, wine and a dessert - €10 or €12 - I guessed that "Socio" meant a discount for the unwaged. It tuned out the clientel were elderly - I think it was a Sunday lunch for the oldies. But we were made welcome. 

***Update*** "socio" = "member". So maybe some kind of dining club.

The local market had a good selection of fruit & veg.

We bought some and I made my "Spanish breakfast" - fried potatoes, peppers, egg and chorizo.

To us from the chilly north the fruit in the villa's garden - grapes and pomegranates - feels exotic.

So much wine, so little time!

Near our villa were these fast food vending machines. It doesn't seem necessary in a place where you an order dinner at 10pm.

The doner kebab sandwich would go down well in Glasgow

Mallorca Trip - Part #2 - A Walk Around Town

Pollença is a great town to to stroll around. It has plenty of winding streets and old buildings.   

The town centre

Tourists in 1912

Shall we tackle the steps?…

….it's at little warm (97F)

Pure Spain. A hairpin bend with no barrier. I guess the cross is to those who didn't make it.

Roman Bridge (maybe not actually Roman, no one knows)

Even this derelict carpet factory looks picturesque

Mallorca Trip - Part #1

Last week we spent a very pleasant week in the Spanish island of Mallorca. We had a villa outside the town of Pollença in the north of the island. This is a beautiful little place with lots of nice bars and restaurants. It's a popular tourist destination but retains its Spanish charm. 

Gwen has a talent for getting good deals. This villa was fantastic. In the countryside but an easy walk into town.

Gwen loved the pool

Even I got in on the action!

A landmark in the town are these stair to a hilltop church

Our favourite bar in town. "Ca'n Moixet" = "the House of the Kitten" in Catalan. We had a drink and some tapas here most evenings.

Port de Pollença is a short bus journey away.